Agitated over Karnataka taking advantage of the current political impasse in Tamil Nadu to push through its Mekedatu agenda and the government’s indifference to the plight of delta farmers reeling under the impact of continued drought conditions, irate farmers staged protests at the grievances day meeting held here on Friday.
Led by Kakkarai Sukumaran, vice-president of the Federation of Farmers' Associations of Tamil Nadu, several farmers who came to the meet draped in gunny bags pointed out they were resorting to the novel protest to show the plight of the suffering farmers. Mr. Sukumaran said that farmers used to pack harvested grains in gunny bags but the current drought and crop loss has resulted in the gunny bags turning into body bags for farmers who ended their lives or died of shock at the daunting debt due to agricultural loss.
Instead of attending to the farmers' problems, the Central Government has given the nod for natural gas exploration in Pudukkottai district which if allowed would have negative impact on the neighbouring Thanjavur district also, the farmers said as they staged a walk out.
Then another group of farmers, including district vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhilalar Sangam V. Jeevakumar, Delta Farmers Association district president A. K. R. Ravichandar, Sugar Cane Growers Association secretary Thozhagiripatti P. Govindaraj knotted a noose around their neck and besieged Collector A. Annadurai who was chairing the meeting.
The farmers alleged that Karnataka was trying to take advantage of the fluid political situation in Tamil Nadu and moving things to construct a reservoir at Mekedatu across Cauvery River and prevent whatever little water Tamil Nadu was getting now.
“If that is allowed, then Delta would turn into a desert and farmers would have lost their livelihoods. The Centre and the State governments must act fast and prevent that from happening. To highlight the situation wherein more farmers were ready to end their lives we have come to the meeting with the noose around our neck,” they stated.
The farmers also wondered on the Central drought assessment team's visit as nothing tangible has emerged so far. The meagre amount announced by the State Government as relief has also not materialised, they alleged.
